These Pittsburgh Pirates Could Hit 20+ Home Runs in 2016
By Jeff Demers
Josh Bell, 1B/OF
Josh Bell is another top prospect for the Pirates. He may be a candidate for first base now that Pedro Alvarez is gone. But even there he is a question mark as his defense is well below average (he made 16 errors there last season). On the other side of the ledger he hits for average – .347 in AAA last year – but not for power. The reason, according to Baseball Prospectus, is “that he doesn’t tap into his lower half well” when swinging. Seemingly, the Pirates aren’t quite sure what to make of Bell yet either. He simply might need more time to figure it out.
Prediction: Bell gets some time in Pittsburgh this year, maybe 100 at-bats at most, and hits his first and only home run of the season in July. With the Pirates depth chart showing Jaso, Morse, Rogers and Rodriguez there is still no room for Bell.